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Eugene, OR

Hi All. I just got my soil test results back and everything seems to be in top shape with the exception of the organic matter. The OM level is only 3.2%. Where should this number be for the AGP's and what should I use to increase the OM concentration without having to worry about leaching the nitrogen out of the soil as it breaks down?

Ideas??

11/20/2003 5:24:42 PM

Tacoma, WA

The soil is in a continual state of "flux". Should you do another test in the spring, you would be surprised at the change in readings. That said, adding more vegetative material and/or manure will change not only the OM, but also several other readings. BTW, I have added many tons of manure, compost, coffee grounds, ect. and my OM readings are still only 7.7%.

Stan

11/20/2003 6:03:23 PM

Montoursville, PA

And don't be so modest Stan! The total of which produced a couple of dandy thousand pound fruits for the first time in his growing experience.

Brian....no one can hit the additive question right on the nose but the trend is to seek ten percent OM while five percent is a major improvement for many. Lots of manure and leaves will be a great start for you. Do this in the fall of the year so the additives do not tie up your nitrogen in the spring when the plant needs it. After many years of building my OM is 17.7 which is outstanding. I have heard of a few even higher. I did it all with manures and leaves with compost in there helping too.

11/20/2003 6:18:00 PM

Too much organic matter can cause excess moisture retention and = rot, so don't overdo it. Nitrogen usually needs to be replenished anyway, because it leaches out of the soil easily.

11/20/2003 6:19:45 PM

Eugene, OR

Thanks to you all again. I know that other readings will be effected as well, but at the moment I'm trying to correct the most obvious problem. My patch is around 1300 sq. ft. and I was thinking that maybe 15 yards of composted cow manure would be a great place to start? A 15 yard truck spread over 1300 sq. ft. would be a little less than 4 inches. Too much?

Composted cow manure is right around 3.5 percent nitrogen so that would also help increase the nitrogen content of the soil.

I'm thinking that adding a good bit of peat moss to keep the soil light as well.

Comments?

11/20/2003 7:04:00 PM

Montoursville, PA

Brigette.......and others that have been trained to expect nitrogen to leach should try and figure out how in the world my fall test just returned showing 120 ppm nitrogen.
....and this is in a record setting rain year where leaching should have been a maxium factor. The only help I can lay to witness is that nearly 100% of my nitrogen is derived from the process of converting from an organic base.
...apparently those sources do not leach at least to the degree expected of synthetic sources. This discovery was made, by test, before I placed my fall additives of manure, leaves, feather meal, fish, kelp and molasses to boost the natural biological side of my patch. Very interesting to say the least. I really do not know how this came to be but it is a bloody fact. My OM is at 17.6% It helps hold the moisture needed for continued biological breakdown to humis and finally humates. Unless the drainage is poor the OM will not hold to much water for an excellent soil development with proper oxygen and release of gasses to the atmosphere.

11/20/2003 7:07:50 PM

Montoursville, PA

Brian....I added Canadian Peat Moss to the tune of five huge bales last year. My soil test in the spring and again this fall reflect a move from about 6% OM to the present 17.7% There will be some that warn against this practice. Guess I'm a hard head. I happen to think it is not a waste at all if you can and do address PH to fall between 6.5 and 7.0. There is no part of my test that would indicate any negative to the total soil consideration. I agree that natural compost if available might have been better but I had none of this in sight. I also added mushroom compost of about five cupic yards along with my five cupic yards of manure last fall.
...To answer your question...no I do not think that up to six inches of manure for the first two or three years would be to much. Mix it into the soil very well in the fall and it will be ready to do it's thing for you in the spring.
...My salts went up a little likely attributed to the mushroom compost. Others tell me they will leach out over the winter and that my use of gypsum also helps reduce the effect of salts or may even help remove them.
...I had no growing problems this summer. I had some inexperience management difficulties which I now understand better.
...I would certainly advise the use of fish, kelp and black strap molasses to boost your biological factory into converting to humis and humates over the winter. My practice is to use six or more ounces of all three as I till the patch several times just prior to planting my cover crop.

11/20/2003 7:21:16 PM

Liverpool , England

My OM is 19%..and NO3 is 183 ppm (Available nitrogen)...salts are a bit high so will be using gypsum to help reduce the effects.

Alun

11/20/2003 7:32:42 PM

Morris, Connecticut

I've heard from a few very good growers that OM levels much above 15% will lead to monster fruit that end up going light on the scales. Alun J and docgipe....how do your fruit tend to weigh out against the charts?

11/20/2003 10:23:49 PM

Eugene, OR

Doc, thanks for the insight. I would tend to agree that the natural sources of nitrogen have got to be the best option. They'll slowly break down and release the nitrogen over a long period of time as opposed to other sources that will simply wash away over a shorter period of time if not used by the plant.

I'm just now starting to understand how the addition of molasses can help the process along. I'm not a farmer or Ag. major by any stretch of the imagination so it's all Greek to me at this point. My Uncle however has his Masters in Agriculture and I think I'll ask him for some of his knowledge on this as well and see what he says.

I thinking that using about 10 yards of composted cow manure along with a couple of inches of peat moss will be the best bet. The soil analysis actually recommended a compost/peat moss mix so I guess it can't be bad! I'll get the soil tested again in the spring to check on the pH and OM and we'll see how it worked out.

Thanks again everyone. You've been a huge help!

Brian

11/20/2003 10:52:58 PM

Liverpool , England

Wheels,
A few years back my OM was 18.3%...fruit was 21.5% OVER chart.

Alun

11/21/2003 7:47:50 PM